Key action for organs including modular rotary wiping contact switch



April 19, 1966 KEY ACTION FOR ORG ANS INCLUDING MODULAR ROTARY FiledJuly 22, 1963 P A. KLANN 3,247,351

WIPING CONTACT SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIGI INVENTOR PAUL A. KLANN BY I4 m A 173. flan 22mg ATTORNEYS April 19,1966 P A KLANN 3, 7

KEY ACTION FOR ORGANS INCLUDING MODULAR ROTARY WIPING CONTACT SWITCH f5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1963 INVENTOR.

v PAUL A. KLANN J wmqzzm;

ATTORNEYS April 19, 1966 P. A. KLANN 3,247,351

KEY ACTION FOR ORGANS INCLUDING MODULAR ROTARY WIPING CONTACT SWITCHFiled July 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR PAUL A. KLAN N UnitedStates Patent 3,247,351 KEY ACTIQN FOR ORGANS INCLUDING MODU- LAR ROTARYWIPING CONTACT SWITCH Paul A. Klann, P.0. Box 2398, Waynesboro, Va.Filed July 22, 1963, Ser. No. 296,830 11 Claims. (Cl. 200164) Thisinvention relates to improvements in key actions for organs andespecially to a key action for organs including a silent rotary wipingcontact switch of the modular type which switch is not limited in itsuse to the environment of organ key actions.

In electric organs as well as pipe organs, each of the keys on thevarious keyboards, the pedals, stops and other similar operator actuateddevices, are utilized to control a plurality of intermediate electricalswitches which in turn control the ultimate sound producing devices.These key or pedal or stop operated intermediate switches are oftenformed in a matrix arrangement so that the keys and stops may provide anumber of different combinations in the sound produced. Theseintermediate switch assemblies are commonly known as key actions. Keyactions may be directly coupled to manual keyboards or pedal boards orthey can be remotely controlled by relays and other arrangementscommonly known in the organ art. This invention relates to an improvedkey action and includes as a component of the key action a silent rotarywiping contact switch having a modular construction, the switch beingcapable of uses other than in key actions.

In key actions for use in organs it is quite obvious that silentoperation is essential so that noise of operation of the key action doesnot interfere with the music produced. This invention utilizes a uniqueconstruction in a key action including a rotary contact switch biased inits bearings by contact wires to provide silent operation.

In organ consoles where key actions are commonly located, space economyis important. That is, there is only a certain amount of space within anorgan console and if large numbers of different combinations arerequired for the key action, for example a great number of slides, itbecomes essential that the key action construction be quite small. Thisinvention provides a key action which utilizes a construction so that agreat number of slides may be positioned close to one another andthereby provide a very compact key action.

Because of the construction of the rotary wiping contact switch of thisinvention, only a very small amount of power is necessary to operate theswitch so that this key action is useful not only as a manual key actionbut also as a remote key action actuated by small power rotary solenoidsor the like.

The rotary wiping contact switch of this key action has a uniquueconstruction, which not only has high contact pressure and Wiping actionto break any insulating film which might form on the switch contacts butalso which can be modified for additional flexibility. The possiblemodifications include providing numerous independent isolated electriccircuits from one switch or providing sequential actuation of a numberof contacts b means of a twisted switch rotor.

A further feature of the key action of this invention which isespecially attractive is that no adjustment of the key action is neededor required.

Furthermore, the key action and rotary switch of this invention arequite simple in construction and can be made of relatively low costmaterials. The simplicity leads to ease of manufacturing and assemblyand consequently the key action is comparatively inexpensive.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in thefollowing description and claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings which disclose, by Way of example, the principles of thisinvention and the best mode which has been contemplated of applyingthose principles.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view ofthe key action of this invention with anumber of the component parts not shown or broken away for the sake ofclarity in illustration.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the keyaction shown in FIG. 1 and similarly has a number of the components notshown or broken away for the sake of clarity in illustration.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 with a furthershowing of a key for actuating the key action.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the slides and contact wiresforming a portion of the contact switch within the key action.

FIGS. 5 and 5A are detailed views illustrating the position of the keyaction switch in normally unactivated and activated positionsrespectively.

FIGS. 6 and 6A show the position of the switch rotor similar to FIGS. 5and SA'but with the switch contact wires moved away from possiblecircuit closing by a slide.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the switch contact rotor of thepreferred embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a modified form of switch contact rotorfor isolating electric circuits.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a further modification of switchcontact rotor for sequential actuation of contacts.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an electric switch utilizing themodular rotary wiping action contact switch of the key action showing arotary solenoid actuator and additional leaf spring switches.

Referreing to the drawings, and especially to FIG. 1, a key action 10includes in general, a support 12, and a multiple electric switchingmatrix 14 composed of a plurality of rotary wiping contact switches 16and selectively actuatable slides 18.

The support 12 includes a pair of side rails 26 and 21. Side rail 21 mayhave a plurality of spring attachment tabs 22 extending therefrom, oneof which is shown in FIG. 3. The side rails 20 and 21 are rigidly spacedapart by a slide guide 24, a magnet support 26 and other suitablespacers, not shown.

The rotary wiping contact switches 16 include a rocker arm 28 journalledin side rails 20 and 21 and extending through a central bore in aplastic contact rotor 30. The rocker arm 28 is nonrotatably held incontact rotor 30 for driving the same. The rotor 30 is shown in detailin FIG. 7 and includes a plurality of grooves 32 formed in the plasticand separated by lands 33. A contact bar 34 is embedded in the plasticrotor by molding the plastic around it and the contact bar extendsparallel to the rotor axis so that it is accessible within the grooves32.

A plurality of contact wires 38 are molded in a plastic support 40 orthe like and support 40 is attached to side rails 20 and 21 as shown inFIG. 3. The contact wires may have a flattened portion'at 42 to controlthe bending thereof, see FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the contactwires 38 are spaced apart a distance equal to the grooves 32 in rotor 30and are biased against the rotor within these grooves. Thus, the contactwires tend to ride in the grooves. In some angular positions of therotor 30 the contact wires 38 will contact the contact bar 34 andestablish an electrical circuit or circuits. This is shown for examplein FIG. 5A. In other angular positions of rotor 30 the Contact wires 38will merely ride in the grooves 32 and the contact bar 34 will bepositioned away from the wires 38 so that a circuit will not be made.

This latter arrangement is shown in FIG. and, in a key action, is thenormal position until a key is operated. For holding the rotor 30 inthis normal position, a biasing spring 36 is provided. The spring 36 isattached to tab. 22 and to an extension 52 on the rocker'arm 28. Therewill, of course, be a rotary wiping contact switch and biased rocker armfor each key of the key, action, al though for the sake of simplicityonly one is being described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 3, a conventional key 44 includes an adjustment clip 46secured thereto and having an adjustment screw 50 for determining whenthe clip will contact the rocker arm extension 52. A pad of felt 48 orthe like to assure silent operation is attached to the end of clip 46.

The selectively actuatable slides 18 include a plurality of elongatedthin wries 54 as shown in FIG. 1 and each of these wires has a pluralityof spaced plastic hooks 56 molded thereon. The spacing of the plastichooks 56 on wires 54 corresponds to the spacing of each row of wires 38.The wires 54 are guided in slots in the slide guide 24- and the hooks 56are positioned around each of the wires 38, see FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. Inorder to enable a pair of hooks to go into the space between two wiresthe hooks are staggered in horizontal planes as shown in FIG. 2. Springs58 attached to the support are provided for biasing the wires to theright as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. The springs cooperate with a plasticreverse hook 60 molded onto the end of each slide wire 54. The other endof each wire 54 is secured to a plastic eye 74 so that the slides may beaxially moved against their spring bias by operation of magnets 62. Dueto the close spacing of the slide wires 54 and the greater width of themagnet 62, the magnets have to be staggered in several rows as shown forexample with two staggered rows in FIG. 1. There will usually, however,be several additional staggered rows to accommodate the large number ofslides.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the magnet assemblies 62 includes a coil 64on a core 66 having a curved tip. A pivoted armature 68 is supported atpivot bearing 70. An actuator extension 72 is provided on the armatureand this extension mounts the plastic eye 74 to which the slide wire 54is connected. Suitable felt stops 67 and 69 may be provided on stopbracket 76 and coil 64, respectively, for deadening the sound andcontrolling the extent of movement of armature 68 and slide wires 54.The extent of movement of the slide wires is such that the hooks 56 willnever completely clear their corresponding contact wires 38. Thearrangement of the contact wires 38 and hooks 56 is shown in detail inFIG. 4. A modification of a hook that is totally enclosed to prevent thepossibility of the slide wire becoming disengaged is shown as hook 56ain FIG. 4. In this modification the width of the enclosed slot iscontrolled for stable operation.

The operation of the key action and the rotary switch therein will nowbe described. Suitable electrical leads for establishing the desiredelectrical circuits are connected to the bottom end of the contact wires38 and similarly, suitable leads for operating various slides 18 areconnected to the selected magnet 62. These electrical connections arewell known in the organ art. On the operation of one or more keys 44,movement of the key upward about its pivot (not shown) as illustrated bythe arrow in FIG. 3, causes rotation of the rocker arm 28 which mountsthe contact rotor 30 for the corresponding key or keys. Rotation of thecontact rotor 30 causes the contact bar 34 to move from the position asshown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 6A or from the positionshown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 5A. Whether or notcircuits will be made through the corresponding contact wires 38 dependson whether or not the slides 18 are in open or closed position, seeFIG. 1. If the corresponding magnet 62 for a selected slide wire 54 isactuated it will overcome the bias of spring 58 and allow the wire tomove into the groove 32 and correspondingly mate with contact bar 34depending on whether or not the corresponding key has been ,actuated torotate rotor 30. For magnets that have not been energized the springs 58pull the contact wires 38 connected to the corresponding slide wire 54out of possible contact with the rotor contact bar 34 as shown in FIGS.6 and 6A. Although the arrangement has been shown with the slides biasedto a position normally retracting the contact wires 38, the device couldbe arranged to normally allow the wires 38 to ride in grooves 32 and themagnets could be energized for the moving of the wires 38 away frompossible contacts such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A. There will,'however,be enough contact wires 38 resting against each rotor 30 to bias therotor and its mounting rocker arm 28 withinits mounting support so thatthere will be little noise in operation. That is, the operation will besilent due to the fact that the principal moving parts, the contactrotors, are biased in their support bearings.

slidesin the space previously required for only a few.

'The rotary wiping contact switch of this invention is capable ofvarious modifications and arrangements to enable it to provide greatflexibility not only'in key actions for organs but also in other arts.That is, the switch per se is not limited to its use in organ keyactions. FIG. 8 shows one of the possible variations and modificationswhich may be made in the switch. FIG. 8 shows the contact rotor 30 ofthe switch having the grooves 32 separated by lands 33 of the plasticwith a contact bar 34 embedded therein. In this modification, however,one of the lands 33 is split or sawed through so that a portion of thecontact 34 is removed and efiectively creates a sec ond contact bar 34'in the same rotor. It will be apparent with the contact wires 38 ridingin the grooves 32 that the rotor of FIG. 8 provides in effect severaldifiierent isolated switches and thus can provide isolated circuits. Asshown in FIG. 8, the contact bar 34 may be divided in several spots toprovide as many isolated circuits as desired.

A further modification of the contact rotor is shown in FIG. 9. In thismodification, the rotor 30 again has the usual grooves 32 separated bylands 33 and carrying the contact bar 34. However, the plastic rotorwith the contact bar embedded therein is twisted so that the contact barassumes a helix along an imaginary cylinder coaxial with the rotor. Thetwisted contact bar 341. will therefore make contact with the contactwires 38 in grooves 32 at different times during the rotation. In otherwords, contact bar 38 would contact a wire in the right-hand side of therotor as viewed in FIG. 9 first and follow with consecutive contactswith other wires 38 in sequence going toward the left. This could beused in a key action for a crescendo effect and could be used in otherswitches for various other sequential actuation. Of course, the cutcontact bar 34' of FIG. 8 could also be used in connection with thetwisted contact bar 34t of FIG. 9 for'further flexibility.

FIG. 10 shows a rotary solenoid actuating a contact rotor 30 used in ageneral switching arrangement, not specialized or limited to key actionsfor organs. In the arrangement of FIG. 10 there is a multiple contactdiverse type switch utilizing the modular rotary wiping action switchdisclosed above and it is noted that the contact rotor 30 has a flatback 82 for abutting against a leaf spring of a plurality of leaf springswitches 84. The rotor 30 also carries the contact bar 34 for contactinga plurality of switchffwires 38 as disclosed in connection with theFIGS. =l-7 embodiment. The leaf springs'of leaf spring switches 84abutting against the fiat back of rotor 30 tend to hold the rotor in anormal position while actuation of the rotor :hot only can selectivelyclose the circuits between contact wires 38 but also actuate the leafspring switches 84 as desired. Rotation of the con tact rotor 30 isaccomplished by a rotary solenoid 86 which can include a coil 88 havinga pivoted armature 90 mounted on a shaft '92 connected to 'the'contactrotor 30. A' rod 94 and base 96'rnake up a U shaped flux path for themagnet to attract the armature 90 to the attracted position shown. It isobvious that the rotary solenoid could also be connected to the rockerarms 28 of the key action shown in the FIG. 1 embodiment to provide aremote rather than a manual key action. It-is also apparent that thevarious forms of contact rotors shown in FIGS. 7-9 could be used as thecontact rotor '30 in the switch and of course the leaf spring switches84-could be omitted. The modular switch can be used in multiples as inthe key action embodiment where the switches are positioned side by sideor they can he -positioned end to end for other uses.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out above thefundamental novel 'fealltres of the invention as applied the preferredembodiment and several additional modifications, it will be understoodthat various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form anddetails of the arrangement illustrated and its operation may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only asindicated by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A key action for organs comprising:

(a) a support,

(b) a plurality of rotatable contact rotors of insulating materialjournalled in the support with their axes parallel to] one another,

(0) each contact rotor carrying a plurality of separate but generallyaxially extending conductor bars embedded therein and a plurality oftransverse grooves exposing the conductor within the grooves,

(d) a plurality of parallel rows of contact wires supported from thesupport, one row adjacent each contact rotor and each contact wirebiased into a groove of the 'rotor, the contact wires and rotor withcontact bar being relatively angularly posi tioned such that rotation ofthe rotor moves the contact into and out of wiping contact with the contact wires,

,(e) means connected to the rotor to cause rotation thereof,

(f) a plurality of slides extending transverse to the axes of thecontact rotors, each slide carrying means for contacting a contact wirein each row of contact wires for moving the same away from contact withthe rotor,

(g) means for axially moving the slide to thereby move contact wiresassociated therewith into and out of biasing contact with the rotorgroove,

(h) spring means attached to the support and to one end of each slidewire for biasing the slide wires out of contact with the rotor groove,and

(i) magnet means connected to the other end of each slide wire formoving the slide Wire in the opposite direction to allow the slide wireto be biased into the grooves of the contact rotor.

2. A key action as defined as claim 1, wherein each of the plurality ofslides comprises a slide wire having a plurality of insulated plastichook portions molded thereto, the hook portions spaced apart a distanceequal to the distance between the parallel rows of contact wires.

3. A key action as defined in claim 2, wherein each of the hook portionsis closed and has an elongated aperture of controlled width throughwhich a contact wire extends.

4. A key action for organs as defined in claim 1, where- 'in the :meansto cause rotation of each contact rotor includes a key having a contactclip thereon, and a rocker arm extending through the contact rotor andadapted to be contacted by the contact clip on the key when the key isactuated.

5. .Aikeyaction for organs comprising:

(a) a support,

"(:b-) aplurality of rotatable contact rotors of insulating materialjournalled in the support with their axes parallel to one another, eachcontact rotor including a plurality of parallel transverse grooves in atleast one portion of the surface thereof.

(0) each contact rotor including means for providing separate isolatedelectrical circiuts, said means including a plurality of separate butgenerally axially extending conductor bars embedded in the contact rotorand exposed within the grooves,

(d) a plurality of parallel rows of contact wires supported from thesupport, one row adjacent each contact rotor and each contact wirebiased into a groove of the rotor, the contact wires and rotor withcontact bar being relatively angularly positioned such that rotation ofthe rotor moves the contact into and out of wiping contact with thecontact wires,

(e) means connected to the rotor to cause rotation thereof,

(f) a plurality of slides extending transverse to the axes of thecontact rotors, each slide carrying means for contacting a contact wirein each row of contact wires for moving the same away from contact withthe rotor, and

(g) means for axially moving the slide to thereby move contact wiresassociated therewith into and out of biasing contact with the rotorgroove.

6. A key action for organs comprising:

(a) a support,

(b) a plurality of rotatable contact rotors of insulating materialjournalled in the support with their axes parallel to one another, eachcontact rotor including a plurality of parallel transverse grooves,

(c) each contact rotor including means for allowing sequential action ofa plurality of electrical circuits, said means including a generallyhelically extending conductor bar embedded in the contact rotor andexposed within the grooves,

(d) a plurality of parallel rows of contact wires supported from thesupport, one row adjacent each contact rotor and each contact wirebiased into a groove of the rotor, the contact wires and rotor withcontact bar being relatively angularly positioned such that rotation ofthe rotor moves the contact into and out of wiping contact with thecontact wires,

(e) means connected to the rotor to cause rotation thereof,

(f) a plurality of slides extending transverse to the axes of thecontact rotors, each slide carrying means for contacting a contact wirein each row of contact wires for moving the same away from contact withthe rotor, and

(g) means for axially moving the slide to thereby move contact wiresassociated therewith into and out of biasing contact with the rotorgroove.

. 7. A modular rotary wiping contact switch comprismg:

(a) a support,

(b) a rotor body of insulating material journalled in the support,

(0) a rotary solenoid including a pivotally mounted armature connectedto the rotor body for rotating said rotor,

(d) means defining substantially parallel grooves separated by lands inthe insulating body substantially transverse to the axis of the rotor,

(e) .an electrical conductor bar embedded in the insulating material ofthe rotor extending to the lands and exposed in the grooves of therotor,

(f) a row of contact wires, a wire for each groove of the rotor, v

(g) means supporting the row of contact wires so that they areinherently biased toward the center of the rotor to bias the rotor inits support and to allow wiping contact with-the conductor upon rotationof the rotor, and a (h) means for establishing at least some electricalcircuits between the contact wires through circuits bridged by theconductor upon rotation of the rotor.

8. A modular rotary wiping contact switch compris- (a) a support,

(b) a rotor body of insulating material journalled in the support andincluding a fiat back portion and spring means in contact with the fiatback portion for holding the rotor in a normal position,

(c) means for rotating said rotor,

(d) means defining substantially parallel grooves separated by lands inthe insulating body substantially transverse to the axis of the rotor,

(e) an electrical conductor bar embedded in the insulating material ofthe rotor extending to the lands and exposed in the grooves of therotor,

(f) a row of contact wires, a wire for each groove of the rotor,

'( g) means supporting the row' of contact wires so that they areinherently biased toward the center of the rotor to bias the rotor initssupport and to allow wiping contact with the conductor upon rotation ofthe rotor, and

(h) means for establishing at least some electrical circuits between thecontact wires through circuits bridged by the conductor upon rotation ofthe rotor.

9. A rotary wiping contact switch as defined in claim 8 wherein thespring means includes at least one leaf spring switch which is alsoactuated uopn rotation of the rotor.

rotation of the rotor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,832,251 4/ 1958Hayslett 84423 X 3,068,334 12/1962 Gibbs et al 200- 166 3,102,939 9/1963Bauer 200-;166 3,149,528 Von Gunten 85,--443 X BERNARD A. GlLHEANY,Primary Examiner.

8. A MODULAR ROTARY WIPING CONTACT SWITCH COMPRISING: (A) A SUPPORT, (B)A ROTOR BODY OF INSULATING MATERIAL JOURNALLED IN THE SUPPORT ANDINCLUDING A FLAT BACK PORTION AND SPRING MEANS IN CONTACT WITH THE FLATBACK PORTION FOR HOLDING THE ROTOR IN A NORMAL POSITION, (C) MEANS FORROTATING SAID ROTOR, (D) MEANS DEFINING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL GROOVESSEPARATED BY LANDS IN THE INSULATING BODY SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSE TOTHE AXIS OF THE ROTOR, (E) AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR BAR EMBEDDED IN THEINSULATING MATERIAL OF THE ROTOR EXTENDING TO THE LANDS AND EXPOSED INTHE GROOVES OF THE ROTOR, (F) A ROW OF CONTACT WIRES, A WIRE FOR EACHGROOVES OF THE ROTOR, (G) MEANS SUPPORTING THE ROW OF CONTACT WIRES SOTHAT THEY ARE INHERENTLY BIASED TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE ROTOR TO BIASTHE ROTOR IN ITS SUPPORT AND TO ALLOW WIPING CONTACT WITH THE CONDUCTORUPON ROTATION OF THE ROTOR, AND (H) MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING AT LEAST SOMEELECTRICAL CIRCUITS BETWEEN THE CONTACT WIRES THROUGH CIRCUITS BRIDGEDBY THE CONDUCTOR UPON ROTATION OF THE ROTOR.